To use in hose thermostats or not? 1935 85 V8

[ScubaChief60]

Ive had the in-hose thermostats in use and recently removed them to test if it cools any better. I'd like your thoughts on the forum. It's a rebuilt 1935 85HP 21 Stud V8. New water pumps. Thanks!

[terry]

I am thinking you removed the stats because you have a cooling problem. Have you road tested the car since removing them? Also, put the stats in hot water to see if they are opening all the way. terry

[FlatheadTed]

Just to add to Terry , if the cars temperature rises at the lights then do not use them.you need extra radiator capacity otherwise they will stay open .Ted

[ScubaChief60]

Hello... I did road test just today since removing them... Temp was fine for first 7 miles then spiked then dropped then spiked again running along about 50MPH. I also lost about a gallon of fluid in that 20 mile jaunt. So... I am thinking I do need them for the system to work as designed.

[FlatheadTed]

Sound like the pumps are pumping some of it out the over flow ,so slowing the pump action can be a benefit in some cases .can be what the thermoses are doing

[ScubaChief60]

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That sounds very logical. I will test the thermostats to be sure they're opening as they should and reinstall and road test again. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Krylon32]

Anyone drill bypass holes in their thermostats?

[tubman]

I think you're seeing exactly what happens when you run these without thermostats. Isn't it common knowledge that Henry Ford never spent any money on something he didn't need? Just sayin'.

[cas3]

Thermostats are to keep the engine warm enough to cook moisture out of the oil and warm up faster than an open system. Once up to the temp the stat is made for it should be open anyways so you are not going to run cooler without them, and you have a radiator issue is my bet.

[Lanny]

Scuba,,, listen to the advice of both 'tubman' and 'cas3'.
You should always run thermostats, look for any cooling
problems elsewhere. Clean both the radiator and block,
and make sure the timing is right on.




.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Lanny

Scuba,,, listen to the advice of both 'tubman' and 'cas3'.
You should always run thermostats, look for any cooling
problems elsewhere. Clean both the radiator and block,
and make sure the timing is right on.

Yep.

[ndnchf]

Newbie quesion. I bought my '35 touring car last summer. It has a stock 1939 24 stud motor that runs great, does not overheat. I dont jnow if it has thermostats or not. Would they be located inside the upper hoses near the radiator? Is there an easy way to determine if I have them or not? If mine are missing. Is there a specific recomended thermostat? Thanks. Steve

[marko39]

Originally Posted by ndnchf

Newbie quesion. I bought my '35 touring car last summer. It has a stock 1939 24 stud motor that runs great, does not overheat. I dont jnow if it has thermostats or not. Would they be located inside the upper hoses near the radiator? Is there an easy way to determine if I have them or not? If mine are missing. Is there a specific recomended thermostat? Thanks. Steve

they should be in the upper hoses where they connect to the head. drain some coolant from rad. and pull hose to check.

[glennpm]

Originally Posted by cas3

Thermostats are to keep the engine warm enough to cook moisture out of the oil and warm up faster than an open system. Once up to the temp the stat is made for it should be open anyways so you are not going to run cooler without them, and you have a radiator issue is my bet.

My thoughts too.

Glenn

[JayChicago]

Originally Posted by ScubaChief60

Hello... I did road test just today since removing them... Temp was fine for first 7 miles then spiked then dropped then spiked again running along about 50MPH. I also lost about a gallon of fluid in that 20 mile jaunt. So... I am thinking I do need them for the system to work as designed.

Are you over-filling the radiator? If the built-in expansion tank on top of the radiator is filled, when warm the excess will get pushed out.

[Rockymountainsparky]

Who manufactures these in hose thermostats?

[Paul Dobbin]

I run thermostats in all my flathead V8's on the theory
that they slow down the water flow, allowing the water to
cool down the engine by spending more time in the radiator
before going back into the hot engine. Thoughts?

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Paul Dobbin

I run thermostats in all my flathead V8's on the theory
that they slow down the water flow, allowing the water to
cool down the engine by spending more time in the radiator
before going back into the hot engine. Thoughts?

The function of thermostats is to regulate water flow in the cooling system by the temperature of the coolant, not to merely restrict flow.

[JayChicago]

Originally Posted by Paul Dobbin

I run thermostats in all my flathead V8's on the theory
that they slow down the water flow, allowing the water to
cool down the engine by spending more time in the radiator
before going back into the hot engine. Thoughts?

I don't know anything about fluid dynamics, but I think that theory about slowing the flow is an old wives' tale. If a molecule of water spends twice as much time in the radiator, it will also be making half as many passes thru the radiator.

[Brian]

There a several different design radiators available for 35 Fords. At least one design places the top of the overflow tube directly under the filler cap. Problem then is, at high[er] engine speeds, the water pumps push coolant straight outta that tube, which pretty quickly lowers the coolant level quite substantially. Ford actually issued a service bulletin which addresses relocating said overflow tube to the very top of radiator. I have previously posted that information on here. Another purpose of the hose mounted thermostats in 35 Fords, is that they do provide a slight barrier to the uprushing flow of coolant into the radiator, just slightly slowing down that flow, which also lessens the tendency to push coolant outta the radiator.

In my 35, I am running the big top tank version of the radiator, along with having the top of the overflow tube at the highest point of the tank, also thermostats. I run the bottom of the overflow tube all the way to the bottom of a catchcan. The radiator cap MUST seal. Fill the radiator to the brim...what happens is as the coolant heats up, it expands...the expansion runs out of the overflow tube into the catchcan, [instead of onto the road as it would if the tube was merely open], and automatically syphons back into the radiator as the coolant cools. The result is that the radiator is always full, irrespective of engine temperature.
I drive my car; lots, including racing it. It never overheats, or uses coolant.